On August 8, the island of Maui experienced a major wildfire disaster fueled by windy and dry conditions. Much of the community of Lahaina was considered destroyed and 36 fatalities had been discovered.

Jason (if you have time), wondering if the windy and dry conditions on Maui for this disastrous event would show up in the lunar phase chart according to Ptolemy's instructions? Or are others looking at these catastrophic events (Ouranos)?

In early August 2023, a series of wildfires, referred to as the Hawaii Firestorm by the United States government, broke out in the U.S. state of Hawaii, predominantly on the island of Maui. The wind-driven fires prompted evacuations, caused widespread damage, killing at least 97 people and leaving at least 31 others missing in the town of Lahaina on Maui's northwest coast. The proliferation of the wildfires was attributed to dry, gusty conditions created by a strong high-pressure area north of Hawaii and Hurricane Dora to the south. The damage caused by the fire has been estimated at nearly $6 billion. (Wiki article)

Here is the chart for the Full Moon which preceded the fires:



The (sidereal) chart has Leo rising with Mars a degree away in square to the MC/IC axis. As early as Necepsos and Petosiris, Leo has been the emblem of fire and heat. (Allen-Star Names) Valens called the astrological sign of Leo fiery and hot. From medieval times Mars has been considered hot, dry and fiery. A fixed star of Leo, Coxa at 19 Leo 39 conjoins Mars at 19 Leo 38, a one minute orb.

Then with Mercury above the horizon conjunct Mars, we have a Mars-Mercury combination. Dave Roell of AstroAmerica.com (now on the Wayback Machine) re-published a very interesting little book on the life’s work of George J. McCormack: A Textbook of Long-Range Weather Forecasting (2012).

McCormack’s keyword for Mercury is wind, Mercury reflecting the character of conjoining or aspecting planets.

For Mars McCormack’s keywords are energy, heat and dryness. When mixed with a storm element, turbulence and destruction are the results. The combination of Mercury and Mars results in a warm atmosphere and increased wind velocity.

Thus we have a perfect description of the atmospheric conditions that caused the Maui fires. Mercury itself has the partile opposition of Saturn, weather-wise (humid, cool and cloudy) which seems not to apply, perhaps because Saturn is below the horizon. The Mars-Mercury conjunction on either side of the ascendant takes priority.

It seems like a good idea if all of us who visit the Skyscript forum would start to track our own weather with new or full Moon charts. We all live in different countries, and could learn a lot from each other by studying these lunar charts. It’s a very easy group project. Could we have a "first" of astrologers actually working together on a research project?!

The Ingress Charts indicates what will be public or known to the world.
But for weather predictions, the NM or FM preceding the Ingress.

In L'Echo d'Hermès, no. 52, Danièle Jay says...
"From the meteorological perspective, it is necessary, for each season, to observe the New Moon or the Full Moon which directly preceded the solar ingress. In the case of a New Moon, it takes everything simply remember the ecliptic degree of syzygy and study it. In the case of a Full Moon, when the luminaries oppose each other, it is necessary to choose the more vigorous of the two, that is to say the one which is above the horizon. Once the degree of syzygy has been determined, its rulers (rulership, triplicity, bound) must be taken into account, as well as the rulers of the angle which follows (Ptolemy, Tetrabible, II, 11), the angle which follows being the one which rises after the syzygy, in the diurnal movement (quelli que ascendono dopo, overo seguono, il luogo dell'eclipse) as the Greek Anonymous rightly says about eclipses."
Why is that so? Because the 2 luminaries are on the ecliptic.

The Cancer Ingress for Lahaina in Geodetic (R.A) has Hades/Kronos = ASC
'Great damage to the native through meanness of others. To be involved in serious misfortune' (Rules for Planetary Pictures).
The previous FM ASC before the Lahaina wildfire that you have posted Therese falls at 18 Leo 28' on Mars in the 8th House and ruling the 4th House (land). And all 3 rulers by triplicity Venus/Mars/Moon conjunct in Leo. Very very hot and dry!

Ouranos, it's great that we are all able to converse peacefully here on Skyscript using two zodiacs, but the position of Mars you have highlighted in your chart is tropical. The Ascendant in my Full Moon 1 August 2023 chart is sidereal. So in the tropical zodiac that Ascendant would be in Virgo (but among the fixed stars of the constellation of Leo).

Thanks for pointing that out Therese,
In Tropical, the Sun being above the horizon in Leo Hot and dry is the one to consider.
And Mars Occidental to the Sun (dry) at the AS in Virgo Dry.
The overall weather condition for this FM is Hot and Dry,

Cheers!
Ouranos

Ouranos wrote:

In Tropical, the Sun being above the horizon in Leo Hot and dry is the one to consider.
And Mars Occidental to the Sun (dry) at the AS in Virgo Dry.
The overall weather condition for this FM is Hot and Dry,

So you are bypassing the actual stars (Tropical Leo is against the stars of the Cancer constellation) in favor of the positions you mentioned? Virgo's symbolism doesn't work so well because that sign is "cold and dry" according to standard tropical element assignment. In this case the sidereal signature is much more forthright as both the sign and constellational stars are in Leo, traditionally the emblem of "fire and heat" (Allen).

For the time being I'm staying only with planet/angle contacts since these weather charts are very much location dependent. (in this full Moon chart I wouldn't be looking at the Sun since it's far from an angle.)

Therese,

Weather conditions are seasonal mainly from the Sun's motion . And I am leaning on Tropical in this matter with the 4 elements - Hot, cold, wet and dry.
A good resume of the 4 elements on The Classical Astrologer

https://classicalastrologer.com/nature- ... trology-2/

Of course, the Fixed Stars are important but my background investigating midpoints have led me to look at the energy of the planets being more important than Signs or aspects.

Best to you,
Ouranos

Ouranos wrote:

Weather conditions are seasonal mainly from the Sun's motion . And I am leaning on Tropical in this matter with the 4 elements - Hot, cold, wet and dry.
A good resume of the 4 elements on The Classical Astrologer

https://classicalastrologer.com/nature- ... trology-2/

I had forgotten (or never learned) the oriental/occidental planetary placement as related to dry and moist. Oruanos, what is the origin of the planetary change in nature between oreintal and occidental? I like the charts on the site you referenced.

Two elements are assigned to each tropical sign, as fire signs are hot and dry and earth signs are cold and dry. But in the sidereal zodiac only one element is assigned to each sign (going back to Valens). So the Aries triplicity is hot and the Taurus triplicity is dry.

Yes, the planets always take priority, but the supposed nature of signs can be helpful as a support. Then we have the changes from Hellenistic to Medieval. Sidereal astrology stays closer to the Hellenistic, but mostly the Tropical system has followed Medieval principles, and the changes that happened after the early Hellenistic period.

On another note, I'm definitely having trouble with this lighter typeface for messages. It's a strain for my old eyes. Is this bothering anyone else?

what is the origin of the planetary change in nature between oriental and occidental? I like the charts on the site you referenced.

Oriental vs Occidental goes back to Ptolemy. I cannot reference the source right now but they can be viewed also as 'morning' (oriental) and 'evening' (occidental). And the analogy you get from it. Morning is more fresh, moist and increasing in light. Evening is older, dry and decreasing in light.
The use of rulership, triplicities and bounds is also interesting. Like in the Tropical FM of August 1st, Mercury, the ruler of the Angular Mars is in opposition to Saturn (even more dryness) and the Moon applies to Saturn, ruling Mars. Quick observation, I have not really delved into the charts.

As for the charts, they can be found in Solar Fire.

On another note, I'm definitely having trouble with this lighter typeface for messages. It's a strain for my old eyes. Is this bothering anyone else?

Yes it does for me as well. The font is Montserrat and sans serif (which does not feature). Maybe a little more feature would be welcomed.

Best to you,
Ouranos

Therese: On another note, I'm definitely having trouble with this lighter typeface for messages. It's a strain for my old eyes. Is this bothering anyone else?

Ouranos: Yes it does for me as well. The font is Montserrat and sans serif (which does not feature). Maybe a little more feature would be welcomed.

Ouranos, is there someone we can contact about this? Since the new Skyscript Forum started there have been very few posts. Somehow the forum doesn't seem so friendly now. Could it be partly because of this more difficult-to-read font? And is there a link for private emails to members as in the old Skyscript? I don't see one. Also the print feature isn't working right.

What does "feature" in your post mean??

Therese,

Sans serif faces have lower stroke contrast with no decorative lines or tapers, clean lines with the same width throughout.

I guess you can send an email to Deb Houlding.

ot

this is ot, but the graphic changes at skyscript definitely suck as far as i am concerned... i was trying not to say anything, but i do agree with therese... this white on white is a real turn off and makes it harder to read... but as i am only a lowly poster and it is not my site, i resisted saying anything... however, i agree with you both here and think deb needs to hear it from a few folks - not that anything will change, but you never know... cheers james